William h



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. H. APPLETON. WORK TRANSPERRING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 439,571. Patented 001;. 28, 1890.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. H. APPLETON. WORK TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 439,571. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Emca WILLIAM H. APPLETON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALVAH W. I

SULLOVVAY, OF FRANKLIN FALLS, NElV HAMPSHIRE.

WORK-TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,571, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed March 18, 1390. Serial No. 344,320. (No modeL) To aZZ whom it may concern: A

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. APPLETON, a UlElZvll of the U n l tea States, and a resident of the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in fork-Transferring Mechanism for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention while relating to work-transferring mechanisms for knitting-machines generally has reference more particularly to that class of such mechanisms which is used in connection with what areknown ascircular-knittin g machines, its object being to provide a mechanism of this character which shall be simple in construction, efficient in operation, and not liable to get out of order.

To these ends the invention consists, first, in the combination, with a suitable diskior body carrying appropriately-shaped transferring-points, of devices for supporting such body and causing it to wabble from side to side across its plan-e successively to bring the transferring-points carried by it into proper relation to the needles of a knittingmachine to permit of the transfer of the loops from the former to the latter in the same order; second, in the combination, with the body and transferring-points aforesaid, and the devices made use of for supporting and operating them, of appliances for effecting the automatic transfer of the loops from the transferring-points to the needles of the knittingmachine, and, third, in various other construe tions and combinations of parts, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a needle-cylinder, cam-cylinder, and, needles of a knitting-machine, with a work-transferring mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention applied in connection therewith, the section being taken in the line w 00 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with some of the elements omitted, illustrating a slightlymodified construction of supporting-frame, the section being taken in the same line as said figure; Fig. 4-, a sectional elevation of the body and points of the transferring mechanism, showing a still further modified arrangement of parts for supporting them, the section being taken axially of the body; Fig. 5, a plan of the stand and a portion of the arm made use of in the modification shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, an elevation of a detached portion of the body, the transferring-points, and the devices made use of for automatically transferring the loops of thefabric from the transferring-points to the needles of the machine; Fig. 7, a front and sectional side elevation of one of the transferring-points, on a large scale, showing, also, the upper portion of a knitting-machine needle and a loop of the knitted fabric in dotted lines; and Fig. 8, a diagram illustrating some of the different positions assumed by the transferring body and points during the transferring operation.

In all the figures like letters are employed to designate corresponding parts.

A-indicates a knitting-machine bed-plate of any ordinary or preferred form upon which is or may be mounted the needle-cylinder B, the cam-cylinder O, and the needles D, all as is common in circular-knitting machines. The parts as thus alluded to, however, constitute no part of my present invention, but are represented in the drawings and referred to herein more clearly to illustrate the operation of my transferring mechanism, and may be modified or changed or other forms substituted in lieu thereof without in any way affecting my invention, it only being essential that Whatever their forms, the needles shall be so operated as all toproject from the needle-cylinder to substantially the same distance during the transferring operation.

E indicates the body of the transferring mechanism to which my invention relates, the same being preferably constructed in the form of a disk and provided around its periphery with a series of transferring-points e, which in number will correspond to the number of needles in theknitting-machine in connection with which the transferring mechanism is to be employed. In the construction of these transferring-points any of the ordinary or well-known forms may be adopted. I prefer, however, to make them from wire of the proper cross-section and to provide them on their inner side with a groove (2 for reception of the needles D, all as is shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 7. The relation in which these points will be secured to the body IE, it is obvious, will be dependent upon the character of the knitting-machine with which the transferring mechanism is to be employed. \Vhen used, however, with a knitting-machine havin g its needles arranged parallel to each other in a cylindrical series, they will preferably project downward from the body E and incline slightly outward, the diameter of the circle formed by the lower end of the series being substantially the same as that of the cylinder formed by the needles D. As thus constructed, the body and transferring-points when employed in the transferring operation, instead of being so applied to the knittingmachine as to bring all the transferringpoints simultaneously into proper relation to their appropriate needles to permit of the simultaneous transfer of all the loops thereto, as heretofore, will be so disposed as to bring them successively into relation to their appropriate needles, and thereby necessitate the transfer of the loops to the latterin that order. To provide for the accomplishment of these results, the body E during the transferring operation will be placed above and substantially over the needles D, with its axis inclined at a slight angle to the axis of the needle cylinder B, and with the transferringpoints on the part of its periphery toward which the axis is inclined extending down upon and overlapping the needles D, as shown at the left in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. A revolution of the upper end of its axis around the axis of the 1ieedle-cylinder while held at the same distance therefrom will then cause the body, if restrained from rotation,to wabble up and down across its plane, as shown in the diagrams, Fig. 8, and thereby depress and bring all the transferring-points carried by it in succession into the same overlapping relation with respect. to their appropriate needles, and permitting of the transfer of the loops carried by them thereto.

The means whereby the application of the body and transferringpoints to the series of needles, when required, and the revolution of the upper end of theaxis of the former around the axis of the needle-cylinder permitted or effected, may be of Various forms. In Fig. 4 I have shown a ball-and-socket joint 6 c employed for this purpose, the same being located at the lower end of a rod or shaft 1, with its center lyingin planes passing across the lower ends of the transferring-points and the tops of the needles respectively, and the revolution of the axis and the wabbling of the body being effected by pressing upon the top of the latter in the proper manner to accomplish those operations. I prefer, however, to make use of a crank or eccentric F, depending from the under side of a disk or collar H, formed on or secured to the end of a shaft I,

with the axis of such crank or eccentric inclined to the axes of the shaft and needlecylinder at the proper angle, and to mount the body E thereon in such a manner as to permit of the crank or eccentric being rotated therein to effect these results. By these latter means, as will be seen, the proper revolution of the axis and wabbling of the body E to bring all the transferring-points into proper relation to their appropriate needles will be effected by simply rotating the shaft I while the body is held from rotation, which rotation may be accomplished through the instrumentality of the crank or Winch L, secured to its upper end.

To support the shaft I, and yet permit of the body E and transferring-points e being applied to and removed from the needles of the knitting-machine as required, either a detachable frame or an arm hinged or pivoted to any convenient part of the machine may be employed. In Figs. 1, -52, and 4 this sup port is shown as composed of a suitablyformed spider M, to the outer end of the arms of which are adj ustably secured, by means of screws on and slots m, the legs h which in turn are provided on their lower extremities with pins or dowels m for entering correspondingly-shaped sockets formed in the bedplate A, while in Figs. 3 and 5 this supportis illustrated as an arm M hinged to the upper end of a stand M which is adjustably secured to said bed-plate by means of a screw m and slot m IVhen the shaft I is connected to the body by a ball-and-socket joint 6 e", as shown in Fig. 4, it will be secured to its support by a nut 6 or other appropriate means; but when such connection is effected through the instrumentality of a crank or eccentric F, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it will be mounted in a suitable bearing N, formed in the spider M or arm M in such a manner as to be free to rotate therein, the axis of the shaftI in both instances, when the transferring mechanism is applied to the knitting-machine, being held in substantial coincidence with the axis of the needle-cylinder.

With the parts above described I sometimes find it convenient to employ devices for automatically effecting the transfer of the loops from the transferring-points to the needles of the knitting-machine when such points are applied thereto, and for this purpose I preferably make use of a suitablycurved plate 0, which is constructed with its under edge of curvilinear or other appropriate form and is mounted upon the outer or free end of an arm 0', that is pivoted in a suitable collar 0 fixedly secured to the crank or eccentric F. In its normal position, or at all times when the loops are not being transferred, this plate 0 will be held by the spring a in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and dotted lines in Fig. 6, with its upper edge extending upward through a curved slot IIO 0, formed in the body E, and its under edge about flush with the under side of said body. When, however, the loops are to be transferred, this plate will be depressed into the position illustrated by dotted lines in the former figure and by full lines in the latter figure, and the same revolved around under the body E by the rotation of the crank or eccentrio F, with its upper edge resting in the groove 0 and its under. edge slightly below the lower ends of the points e, the effect of which operation will be to successfully force the loops from such points down onto the needles D, and thereby accomplish the transference thereof.

To press the plate 0 down into the position necessary to effect the transferring operation, various means may be employed. I prefer, however, to make use of a plate or frame P, which is hinged to the upper side of the body E and is provided on its under side near its free or outer end with a curved segment 1), formed with a curved groove 0 in its under edge of the same radius-and cross-section as the groove 0 in the body E. In the construction of this segment it will preferably be made of the proper size and shape to fit the slot 0 and of a depth sufficiently greatto bring its lower edge into the plane of the under side of the bodyE, with the groove 0 registering with the groove 0', in which position it may be securely locked and held by the spring-catch o engaging with the upper side of the frame P or by other equivalent means. \Vhen, therefore, it is desired to transfer the loops from the transferring-points e to the needlesD and the transferring mechanism is applied to the knitting-machine, all that is necessary is to force the curved plate 0 down into its lowest position, which may be done by pressing down the frame P until it is engaged with the spring-lock 0 and revolving the same through the instruinentality of the crank L and shaft I, the grooves 0' o in the under side and the under edge, respectively, of the body E and segment 19 serving to hold such plate in its depressed position while the revolution is beingeffected. The transfer of the loops having been accomplished, the return of the plate 0 to its original position may be effected by bringing it beneath the segment 19 and disengaging the spring-hook o from the frameP, when the spring n, acting upon the arm 0', will carry it back into that position. I

The means for holding the body E upon the crank or eccentric may be of various forms. In the drawings I have shown a nut f employed for this purpose; but any other equivalent means may be adopted, it only being essential that whatever its character, the device, while holding the body securely in place upon the crank or eccentric shall yet permit of its ready removal therefrom and replacement thereon, as may be required.

In Fig.8 I have shown some of the positions in which the body E will be placed during the transferring operation, a indicating the plane of the lower ends of the transferringpoints when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, b the position thereof when the axis of said body has been revolved through the arc of ninety degrees, and c the position when revolved through the arc of one hundred and eighty degrees. Likewise in Fig. 7 I have shown the construction of transferring-points which I prefer in practice and the relation of the same to the needles when in position to permit of the transfer of the loops to the latter, the loops being shown by dotted lines in the situation they will occupy when this operation is to be effected.

As thus constructedand organized, the operation of my transferring mechanism is as follows: The loops of the fabric having been picked upon the transferring-points and the needles of the knitting-machine all protruded to the same distance, the transferring mechanism will be brought over the needle-cylinder and the axis of the body in which the transferring-points are carried revolved around the axis of the shaft supporting the same. The effect of this revolution will be to cause the body to wabble back and forth across its plane and successively depress and bring the transferring-points into relation to their appropriate needles, when the transfer of the loops from the points to the needles may be effected by simply sliding them from one to the other. When the ball-and-socket arrangement is availed of for mounting the body, the revolution of its axis around the axis of its supporting-shaft will be effected by pressure applied to its upper side in the proper manner to accomplish that result, and the transfer of the loops effected by sliding them from the points to the needles by hand; but when the crank or eccentric construction is employed, these two results will be automatically attained by simply rotating the sup port ing-shaft through the instrumentality of its operating crank or winch, the curved plate for effecting the transfer of the loops having been first depressed to its lowest position and there held by its co-operating depressingframe and spring-hook.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I produce a mechanism for transferring the loops of knitted fabrics to the needles of a knitting-machine, which, while simple in con-. struction is yet efficient in operation and admirably suited to the purpose for which it is intended.

In the above I have described the best means contemplated by me for carrying my invention into practice; but I wish it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself strictly thereto, as it is obvious that the same may be modified in various ways or used in connection with other forms of machine from that shown in the drawings, whether employing latch or spring bearded needles, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. The combination, with the needles of a knitting-machine and a series of transferringpoints for co-operating therewith, of mechanism for holding said series of transferringpoints above and substantially over the needles and permitting of their depression to bring them successively into relation to their appropriate needles to allow of the transfer of the loops carried by them thereto, substantiall y as described.

2. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine and a disk or body provided with a series of transferring-points, of means for holding the disk or body above and over the needles and permitting, of the depression of the transferring-points to bring them successively into relation to their appropriate needles to allow of the transfer of the loops carried by them thereto, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knittin g machine and a disk or body provided with a series of transferring-points, of a shaft provided with a crank upon which the disk or body is mounted, having its axis inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft, a bearing and support in which the shaft is mounted, and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine and a disk orbody carrying a series of transferring-points, of a shaft provided with a crank upon which the disk or body is loosely mounted, having its axis inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft, a bearing and support in which the shaft is rotatively mounted, and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a circular-knitting machine, a series of transferring-points for co-operating therewith, and mechanism for holding said transferring-points above and substantially over the needles and permitting of their depression to bring them successively into relation to their appropriate needles ":0 allow of the transfer of the loops carried by them thereto, of means for adjusting the series of transferring-points laterally to bring them into proper position with respect to the needles, substantially as described.

6. A work-transferringmechanism for knitting-machines, consisting of a suitable support or frame, a shaft mounted therein and provided with a crank the axis of which is inclined to the axis of the shaft, a disk or body provided with a series of transferringpoints rotatively mounted on said crank, and means for rotating such shaft, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a disk or body provided with a series of transferring-points and a support, of devices carried by such support for imparting to the disk or body a wabbling movement across its plane, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine, a disk or body carrying a series of transferring-points, means for imparting to such disk or body a webbling movement across its plane to bring successively the transferring-points into proper relation to their appropriate needles, and a support therefor, of a device for automatically transferring the loops from the transferring-points to the needle substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine, a disk or body carrying a series of transferring-points, a shaft provided with a crank upon which the disk or body is arranged, having its axis inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft, and a support for said shaft, of a curved plate for transferring the loops from the transferringpoint to the needles, an arm to the onterend of which such plate is secured, a collar in which said arm is pivoted, secured to the crank, and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the disk or body provided with a series of transferring-points and a support, of a shaft journaled in such support and provided with a crank upon which the disk or body is mounted, having its axis inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft, a collar secured to said crank, an arm pivoted in such collar and carrying at its outer end a curved plate, and a crank for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the shaft I, provided with the crank F, and the disk or body E, carrying a series of transferring-points c and provided with a slot 0, of a collar 0 arm 0', curved plate 0, frame P, provided with a depending segment- 19, and a spring-hook 0 substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the disk or body E, provided with a series of transferringpoints 2 and a slot 0, and a shaft I, equipped with a crank F, having its axis inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft, of a collar 0 arm 0, curved plate 0, frame P, provided with a depending segment 1), and a springhook 0 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of March, 1890.

\VILLIAM II. APPLETON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE P. APPLETON, HENRY CARTER. 

